I had no idea the British Isles were subject to earthquakes but the Times had this to say: The country experiences a magnitude 5 earthquake on average every ten years. A magnitude 4 earthquake occurs on average every two to three years.

I bet it's much more unnerving there! I've got to go back and finish the story to see what effect it had._________________God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

Rainey, it was news to me too! London was pretty far from the epicentre, but I did get awakened at 1 this morning by my bed shaking. It lasted about 20 seconds and, after wondering very briefly whether it was an earthquake, I fell straight back to sleep! From what I've read, it did some damage to buildings but only one person was injured (apparently not too seriously).

I am sooo embarrassed... I slept right through it and didn't realised anything had happened until I was asked if I'd felt it this morning. Sadly it wasn't Eva Longoria asking me either... sigh!

We in Loughborough got it briefly apparently but were at the edge of it. Skegness got it pretty badly I'm told. Lincolnshire were at the centre of it._________________Confusion comes fitted as standard.

I was lying in bed trying to get to sleep when it started - very disconcerting, I didn't know what it was, considered an earthquake and then thought "nah, that doesn't happen here!" Then I panicked and thought someone was trying to break in (I don't know why!) so checked the doors and went back to bed!

It's a good job that we don't usually get them - everyone in Britain is rubbish at dealing with nature. People are still moaning about the damage done in "The Great Storm of 1987," and the trains don't run if its too wet, too cold, too windy, too snowy, too leafy (autumn) or too hot. Its absurd! I'm sure my fellow Brits will back me up here!

Nicki---I know exactly what you mean about a sudden sense of panic! A few years ago during the night I felt what I thought was a jet passing low in the sky or a huge truck rumbling by--anyway something shook the house (and mine is solid stone) but I didn't think of an earthquake. However i was suddenly seized with panic and actually went down and locked the doors (I don't as a rule) and had a heck of a time going back to sleep. Didn't know it was an earthquake until the next morning. I think there is just some primeval sense we have from some past time in human development when our ancestors lived in a quake zone or something. Anyway it was definitely creepy!_________________Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!